My (40M) wife (46F) and I have been married for 12 years. In the last year and a half my business closed and it's been financially devastating as a family. I'm finally starting to get on track, but my wife has been a miserable person to live with this whole time. She yells and screams at myself and the kids from the moment she wakes up until the moment she goes to sleep.

Debt wise we're in the process of selling the house, I have about $4,500 worth of credit card debt, my truck payment, and some student loans. Her vehicle is paid in full and we have a clear title. We're renting from family currently with an option to buy later on.

This past Thanksgiving and Christmas were miserable for myself and the kids due to her being mean and nasty. I realized I don't want to be a part of this anymore. She talks about divorce daily, says I can have custody of the kids, and that she will leave the country to live with family overseas. She has maybe $30k in her own account as part of an inheritance.

I'm at the point where I believe staying for the kids is hurting the kids, because of her behavior. It doesn't happen often, but there have been a few times where she has physically attacked me. I don't fight back other than to prevent my face from being hit. I've never called the sheriff, but I think I need to if it happens again.

I think a dissolution would appeal to her so that she doesn't have to split her money. We really don't have a lot of assets to fight over. Any thoughts on what I've described? Should I get a lawyer soon? My few friends and sister that I've talked to about this have all encouraged me to stay, but I'm just done with it. I'm done.